Richard W. Spinrad Confirmed As 11th NOAA Administrator

Richard (Rick) W. Spinrad, Ph.D., has been confirmed by the Senate as the under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and the 11th NOAA Administrator. 

As SeafoodNews previously reported, the Biden Administration had nominated Spinrad for the position back in April. An oceanographer with decades of experience, Spinrad previously served as Chief Scientist of NOAA, an appointment made under the Obama administration. He also served as the head of NOAA’s Research Office and the National Ocean Service, as well as co-led the White House Committee in developing...

Alaska Dungeness Crab Fetching Higher Prices

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch –

Prices for all crab continue to soar and that bodes well for Dungeness crab fisheries at Southeast Alaska and Kodiak, areas that last year saw big catches.

Kodiak’s fishery opened on May 1 and so far 68,358 pounds have been landed by just eight boats, compared to 29 last year. The Kodiak price this season was reported at $2.75 a pound for the crab that weigh just over two pounds on average. That compares to...

FDA Updates Some Seafood Processing Hazards and Controls Guidance Documents

Updated forms, guidance for drugs used in aquaculture, safety levels and more are just some of the changes included in recent Food and Drug Administration documentation for its Fourth Edition of “Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance.” The new, fourth edition, is now dated June 2021.

The FDA has determined specific chapters, appendices, and addenda of the guidance would be updated with the availability of new science. This update includes changes to:

• Introduction: Introduction and Discussion
• Chapter 3: Potential Species-Related and ...

BOEM to Open 30-day Comment Period on Potential Impacts of Empire Wind Project on the East Coast

The offshore winds of change are blowing again: An environmental review is scheduled for a new potential project of up to 174 turbines offshore New York and New Jersey.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said in a press release Thursday that it would publish a notice in the Federal Register today a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on a Construction and Operations Plan submitted by Empire Wind, LLC.

However, that FR notice, has since been withdrawn, likely ...

Atlantic Canada Ministers Says Region is Ready for Aquaculture Growth

A group of ministers from Atlantic provinces in Canada has agreed to the ongoing development and management of their respective aquaculture industries under a set of common principles.

Ministers from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick signed a new memorandum of understanding after a previous agreement signed in 2008 aiming to sustainably grow their aquaculture industries.

“In a time when food security is especially important, it is good to see our aquaculture industry has grown steadily and is poised for continued growth in 2021 based...

OSHA Updates Guidance For Protecting Workers From Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has updated their guidance for protecting workers and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The changes made focus on protections for unvaccinated and otherwise at-risk workers.

“Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace” was initially posted by OSHA on January 29. On June 10 the government department released some changes to the document, which was created to “help employers and workers not covered by...

White Shrimp Are Seeing Price Decline and Uncertain Future in Chinese Market

White shrimp have suffered from continuous price contraction from May to early June. With increasingly large aquaculture scale in recent years, some insiders have worried if farmers will be able to earn satisfying profits or not, considering factors like greater supplies, higher disease incidence and uncertain seed qualities.

Shrimp prices plummeted to great extents in China’s Jiangsu province in late May, and some traders complained that it is difficult to continue their business. And there are few signs of market rebound...

FFAW, ASP Submit Summer Shrimp Prices to Standing Fish Price Setting Panel

The Standing Fish Price Setting Panel is holding a hearing today regarding the summer price for shrimp.

FFAW said in an update that negotiations regarding the price were held this week, but that after three days they remained too far apart from the Association of Seafood Producers’ (ASP) offer. The two organizations ultimately submitted their prices to the Standing Fish Price Panel. FFAW submitted a price of $1.22 per pound, which they say “accurately reflects the current...

Samherji, HS Orka Agree to Develop Land-based Salmon Farm with 40,000 MT of Capacity

A subsidiary of Iceland-based seafood firm Samherji has reached an agreement with HS Orka, along with landowners to develop a land-based salmon operation with the capacity to produce up to 40,000 metric tons of salmon per year.

According to Samherji, the Samherji fiskeldi operation will be located in the Resource Park by the Reykjanes Power Plant. The company said it has secured access to sea and electricity to handle the capacity as well...

DFO Provides Update Following Lobster Science Partnership Roundtable

In late May, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced the Lobster Science Partnership Roundtable to bring scientists, Indigenous partners, commercial fishing representatives, and other key researchers together to discuss lobster stocks in the country.

After hosting a Lobster Science Roundtable on June 15, the DFO thanked the 40-plus participants for their contributions when discussing the work that needs to be completed for lobster science.

The participants talked about specific lobster science projects they would like to undertake, and what they could each contribute, the DFO said. The group also showed interest...

REPORT: Chilean Salmon Production May Be Impacted By Upcoming Holidays

On Thursday Chile’s Congress was said to have voted to define Monday, June 21 as a holiday to commemorate the “Day of the Native Peoples.” According to reports from Emol National, the indigenous holiday was approved and will be implemented on Monday. Chilean salmon market participants tell Urner Barry market reporter Janice Schreiber that the holiday could have an effect on production and shipments for next week. 

Schreiber reports that the Chilean fresh fillet market was unchanged on Thursday this...

NOAA Administrator Talks Recent U.S.-Canada Meeting on North Atlantic Right Whale Mortalities

Acting NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Paul Doremus provided an update following a meeting with Canadian officials that focused on the management and conservation of North Atlantic right whales.

On June 10, NOAA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada held their first biannual meeting of the year. NOAA’s Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, Sam Rauch, and our Regional Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, Mike Pentony were present for the virtual meeting.

Doremus wrote, “Clearly, it is crucial for both countries to take and...

U.S., UK Reach Agreement Regarding Large Civil Aircraft; Will Not Impose Tariffs Related to Dispute

Just a few days after the United States and European Union announced a cooperative framework to address the large civil aircraft disputes which have been raging since 2004, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on Thursday that they have also reached an agreement with the United Kingdom.

“Reaching an agreement with the United Kingdom to finally put the large civil aircraft disputes behind us is a great step forward for our relationship,” said United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “I want to thank...

Alaska Scallop Fishery Opens July 1

This is Alaska Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch …

One of Alaska’s smallest and priciest fisheries gets underway on July 1 – weathervane scallops.

The fleet size is limited by federal licensing for only 9 permits, but just two boats take part in the fishery which spans from Yakutat to the Bering Sea and can run through the winter.

“It’s pretty specialized. It’s not something you can get into easily. A fair bit of institutional knowledge and also specialized gear.  Lots of people have some Tanner crab pots lying around their back yards but...

Wildfish Cannery and Barnacle Foods Launch Limited Release Octopus in Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce

You’re not going to want to miss this collaboration between Wildfish Cannery and Barnacle Foods. The two Alaska-based companies have joined forces to release a special, very limited small-batch of Wildfish Cannery Octopus in Bullwhip Kelp Hot Sauce. 

Wildfish Cannery has been in business since 1987 and is now run by the founder’s grandson, Chef Matthew Scaletta. Barnacle Foods was founded in 2016 by Matt Kern and Lia Heifetz, but the relatively new company has...

Top Chilean Soccer Player to Star in Campaign Showcasing Country’s Salmon, Other Top Exports

Star Chilean soccer player Alexis Sanchez was named the face of Prochile’s “Unboxing Chile” campaign which will promote Chilean salmon and other products from the country as it looks to promote exports in new markets.

The campaign aims to show the country’s salmon is “reliable, sustainable and of quality, attributes that are recognizable in the Chilean striker and that allow bringing national production closer to other nations.”

“We hope that this campaign will show the talent of southern Chile, increase our country's awareness...

Pebble to Conduct Field Program During Bristol Bay Salmon Harvest

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., the Canadian owner of Pebble Limited Partnership, will be conducting an annual field program at the headwaters of Bristol Bay during July, the peak time for sockeye salmon to be returning to the area.

Pebble’s 2021 field program is focused on “environmental management, sustainability and regulatory compliance” according to the press release.

In March 2019, Stephen Buckley, Mining Section Chief for the state’s Division of Mining, Land, and Water, sent a letter to Pebble’s Tim Havey, Pebble’s Environmental Manager outlining the requirements of the Miscellaneous Land ...